Dying is hard, but somebody had to do it.

Here is a copy of the story that ran with "The Daily News - Halifax" edition from Transcontinental Media Inc. The online I found this story is http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=5521&sc=2

I am not quoted in this news item, but I was one of the 10 people who helped create the injuries of the 20 volunteers and others who were quoted/photographed in this story.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

By Lindsey Keilty
The Daily News

HALIFAX - Dying is hard, but somebody had to do it.

Wrapped in a blanket and looking a bit worn-out, Leading Seaman Matt Wright watches fellow officers get treated as he recovers from his simulated death experience on USNS Comfort.

Wright was one of 20 mock casualties on HMCS Montreal as part of a massive casualty training exercise in Halifax Harbour yesterday.

"I was right beside the fuel tank when the explosion happened," Wright explained. "I was burned on 37 per cent of my body and I was found unconscious."

"When I came aboard the USNS Comfort, I took a deep breath, my eyes rolled back, and I died on the table."

Wright has never been involved in a real-life trauma situation in his four years on HMCS Toronto, but he says the simulations in this and other exercises are as true to life as possible for the best training.

The entire event was scripted as part of a larger homeland-security training exercise that takes place over several weeks.

HMCS Montreal was being refuelled in port when the fuel truck exploded and caught fire. In the simulation, USNS Comfort is called from a nearby location to assist.

First exercise in Halifax

"This is the first casualty exercise in Halifax Harbour involving both U.S. and Canadian ships," said Lt.-Cmdr. Ken MacKillop.

Being inside the emergency room of USNS Comfort is not unlike any other hospital environment. Navy personnel in scrubs and masks work efficiently to receive and treat the wounded.

"This type of bilateral collaboration is important," said Lt.-Col. Roger Tremblay of Joint Task Force Atlantic. "This has been a great experience for our staff. There are always lessons to learn from at the end of the day."

USNS Comfort is a U.S.Navy medical ship with a 1,000-patient capacity. She left Baltimore, Md., on April 25, and travelled to Halifax as part of a three-week combined disaster relief and humanitarian assistance training mission with Canadian Armed Forces and the British Royal Navy.

"It is important to be used to working well with other nations," said Lieut. Marie Claude Gagne, public affairs officer with Joint Task Force Atlantic. "If you train for a possible scenario, the better you can react when it happens, and that will save lives."

lkeilty@hfxnews.ca